Laryea happy to be playing multiple positions

Edmond Laryea played both fullback, linebacker and several roles on special teams in Rutgers' 31-0 win over Norfolk State last Thursday. (MyCentralJersey.com file photo)

PISCATAWAY — Edmond Laryea admits that for a few days over the final week of preseason camp he found himself entering the wrong positional meeting room.

Fortunately, he had a valid excuse. It’s not everyday, after all, that a player is asked to grasp both the offensive and defensive playbooks at the same time.

“”I’m not going to lie,” said Laryea, who is playing fullback and linebacker in addition to participating on five speciality units. “”At first I was going to the wrong meetings. But now it’s a lot easier for me to do.”

Laryea isn’t downplaying his accomplishment of being the first Rutgers player in four years to play both offense and defense in the same game. He’s quick to point out that it’s not like he plays every down at fullback or starts at linebacker, but the fifth-year senior, who played both positions on ensuing series in the second half of Rutgers’ 31-0 win over Norfolk State, can appreciate why other people are so intrigued by it.

“”I keep telling the guys I don’t want to give myself too much credit,” said Laryea, a 6-1, 223-pound fifth-year senior from Staten Island, who is expected to play an integral role once again when Rutgers plays at Florida International on Saturday (8 p.m., SNY).

“”It’s not like I’m playing receiver or corner. I’m playing linebacker and fullback, so it may be a little bit easier to do.”

Perhaps, but considering he’s only three years removed from missing an entire season due to knee surgery, the old-school, iron-man role is an accomplishment he never figured possible during his rehabilitation.

“”It’s funny because from back then looking at the future I could never see myself in this position,” he said. “”I was a little younger so I didn’t know quite how to react from to the injury. It was something that never happened to me, I never had a major injury like that.

“”That’s something that changed my mentality a little bit, made me work a little bit harder and made me appreciate things a little bit more. That’s why I come out here and try to work as hard as I can. Because you never know when it’s going to be taken away from you. And stuff like that is unfortunate but I’m glad about the opportunities I’ve been given and I’m going to make the best of it to help this team.”

Laryea isn’t sure exactly how many plays he participated in during Rutgers’ season opener, but concedes it was a lot considering he also got in on both kickoff and punt teams.

“”I got a couple of snaps at fullback, a couple snaps at linebacker, a couple snaps on special teams,” said Laryea, who assisted on a pair of tackles and served as the lead blocker on Rutgers’ 7-play, 75-yard scoring drive midway through the second half. “”I couldn’t even guess honestly. It’s a pretty nice deal and I’m very fortunate to be put in that position. But the coaches are the ones putting me in that position. I’m embracing the opportunity that’s being given to me.”

When he initially moved Laryea to linebacker — the position he played at during his first three years before moving to fullback last summer — Greg Schiano said the decision was based on the need for more linebacker depth. The Rutgers coach said Monday that while he’s still not sure whether Laryea will continue playing both sides throughout the season, he wants to keep him on both sides for now.

Either way — or both ways — Laryea said he’s looking forward to whatever role he’s given.

“”Honestly from the conditioning I think I’m in good shape from summer (camp),” he said. “”The physical part is very important but the mental part, taking time to review everything, and never forgetting my responsibilities on either side is the most important. You have to be very tentative and you have to be very focused.”

About Keith Sargeant

Keith Sargeant is a graduate of Middlesex County College and Kean University. A Home News Tribune staff writer since August 1997, Keith has been covering Rutgers sports since 2000, serving as the Scarlet Knights' football beat writer since 2006.

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Jerry CarinoJerry Carino has covered sports for the Gannett New Jersey newspapers since 1996 and has been on the college basketball beat since 2003. A native of Old Bridge, he also teaches journalism at Kean University.E-mail Jerry

Josh NewmanJosh Newman has worked for the Press since September 2004 and began covering Shore Conference sports full time in September 2006. He is a 2004 graduate of Springfield College with a degree in communications/sports journalism.E-mail Josh

Ryan DunleavyRyan Dunleavy has covered Rutgers athletics for more than a decade, dating back to his days as a student at his alma mater. He became New Jersey Press Media’s Rutgers women’s basketball beat writer in 2009 and Rutgers football beat writer in 2013. Since joining the staff in 2004, the Morris County native also has covered the NFL, MLB, NBA, the Somerset Patriots and high school sports.E-mail Ryan